Lavender R. Ray (December 15, 1842-May 27, 1916) was born in Newnan,
Georgia, the son of John R. and Bethenia Gilliam Lavender Ray. His mother, of
Virginia ancestry, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father, of
Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Donegal County, Ireland and immigrated to
America in 1812; in 1828 he taught school in Maryland and Virginia and finally
settled in Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia, where he maintained a handsome and
hospitable home. He was well educated, cultured, a fluent orator and a
successful lawyer.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ray joined the Newnan Guards, was
then with the 1st Georgia Cavalry Regiment, and served as ordinance officer in
General Alfred Iverson's Division of Cavalry. He was accompanied by a family
slave, Dick, and was in various camps in Virginia and Tennessee. This division
was afterwards commanded by Major General P. M. B. Young. Lavender served four
years and returned to Newnan, studied law in his father's office and was
admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1871 he married Miss Annie Felder of Americus,
Georgia. He was one of the presidential electors in 1880 and voted for Winfield
Scott Hancock. He served as a representative from Coweta County to the state
legislature, 1882-1883, and represented his district in the state senate,
1884-1885. In 1891 he and his family moved to Atlanta, where he had large real
estate interests.

Ray attended a number of Confederate Reunions as a delegate and in
1906 was one of Wheeler's cavalry especially invited to Washington to act as
honorary escort at the funeral of General Joseph Wheeler on January 29 of that
year. In 1911, fifty years after leaving to join the army, he and others were
presented with a diploma by the University of North Carolina. He continued
active law practice until his death from apoplexy on May 27, 1916. He is buried
in the family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery, Newnan, Georgia.
Biographical information derived from Knight, L. L.,
Georgia and Georgians, IV, 1958-1961.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of a microfilm copy of the papers of Lavender
Ray from 1861-1865. It contains two items: a manuscript diary with entries from
October 6, 1864 to April 30, 1865, and "Letters and Diary of Lavender R. Ray,"
a bound typed copy of the above diary with some letters dated April 28,
1861-April 17, 1865.

Diary entries begin with the evacuation and burning of Atlanta. Ray
discusses camp life, costs, attitudes of civilians, travel to South Carolina,
news of Lee's surrender and Lincoln's assassination. Letters document Ray's
enlistment and early war years, and news of his body servant, Dick
Thompson.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in chronological order.

Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
Thompson,
Dick.
Corporate Names
Confederate States of
America. Army--Military life.Confederate States of
America. Army. Georgia Cavalry Regiment, 1st.Confederate States of
America. Army. Georgia Infantry Regiment, 1st (1861-1862). Company
A.Confederate States of
America. Ordnance Bureau.
Topical Terms
Atlanta Campaign,
1864.Military camps.Slaves--Georgia.Soldiers--Georgia.
Geographic Names
Georgia--History--Civil War,
1861-1865.South Carolina--History--Civil War,
1861-1865.United States--History--Civil War,
1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.
Form/Genre Terms
Diary.
Occupation
Lawyer.Soldier.
Container List
DiaryMF11864 October 6 - May 6, 1865 "Letters and Diary of Lavender R. Ray" [typed copy of
above]MF1Diary: 1864 October 6 - May 6, 1865MF11861 April 29: Writes to sister from Chapel Hill wanting
to leave school and join army.MF11861 September 6: Monterey, Virginia. Letter to
mother.MF11861 September 12 - October 27: Camp Bartow. Describes
preparation for battle and unfortunate skirmish with own troops; fortifications
of camp; a skirmish (October 3) with Union troops; "losing confidence in Lee"
(October 16).MF11861 November 11 - 18: Travelers Repose, N.W. Virginia.
Speaks of cold, guard duty, camp stories about the Yankees.MF11861 December 7 - 13: Near Winchester, Virginia. Tells of
journey from Greenbrier; describes election of officers; requests things from
home; is under command of General Thomas R. (Stonewall) Jackson.MF11861 December 16 - 25: Camp Mason, Virginia. Everyone
tries to enjoy Christmas. Writes of weather, rumors, clothing needs, lack of
social contacts.MF11862 January 1 - 18: Leaves Camp Mason; describes march,
rejoining General Jackson. Battle at Bath, West Virginia, pursuit of Yankees to
Potomac, sacking the private homes where the Yankees had been. Did not wish to
invade Maryland.MF11862 January 23 - February 23: Winchester, Virginia
quartered temporarily in a home; dissatisfied with General Jackson's care of
troops, describes feelings. Regiment moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Lavender
will follow.MF11862 March 2: Camp Davis near Lynchburg, Virginia.
Regiment unable to get to Knoxville because of roads. Plans to come home soon.
MF11862 March 9: Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Visiting at
university. Mentions dead, sick, lost friends. Will rejoin regiment in Augusta
in 2 days. MF11862 May 26 - 29: Gives particulars of prisoner exchange
trip; thinks he is likely to get permanent appointment.MF11862 June 15 - 28: Various camps in East Tennessee;
Kingston, Camp Watchout (near Maynardsville), also Camp Precarious in same
area. Yankees advancing, he wants commission. Strong Union section.MF11863 February 14: Camp Woodlawn, near Rogersville,
Tennessee Describes Girls' School.MF11863 April 4 - 10: Camps near Kingston, Tennessee. About
to leave for Kentucky. Might send Dick (family slave and body-servant who went
through the war with Lavender. After the war was known as Lick
Thompson.)MF11863 May 8: Camp near Robertsville, Tennessee. Tells of
injuries. Needs Dick.MF11863 May 13 - June 6: Wartburg, Tennessee. Encloses leaves
of trees growing in historic spots; tells about the spots; can’t get a good
office; wants a substitute; Dick has arrived (June 30); describes in detail the
murder of Capt. Miller by men of his regiment, the Tigers.MF11864 January 12 - 17: Camp near Athens, Tennessee.
Expecting to return to Kentucky for big fight; small pox has broken out; seems
to have given up on getting a substitute.MF11864 March 23 - June 27: Atlanta, Georgia. Would like to
join the Marines; hears the French are coming to help; speaks of marriage
mania; advises father to evacuate completely "to the plantation".MF11864 December 5: Macon, Georgia. Advises father to sell
his slaves and buy property. General war news and business advice.MF11865 January 20 - February 18: Headquarters Iverson's
Division, Near Mathew Bluff, South Carolina. News of war; speaks of Negro
issue; advice to family. On February 18 in Augusta, preparing to go to attack
Yankees at Aiken.MF11865 March 9 April 17: Augusta, Georgia. Dick is still
with him. War news, Yankee stories, conditions of cities, prices; needs money
and clothing.